Hakushaku to Yousei - Volume 23 - Chapter 7

Chapter 7 ♦ The melody of the chained soul

The sound of whipping continuously echoed under the night sky that was thickly covered in clouds.
At the same time, the sound of groaning could be heard flowing out. The shadow that was being repetitively whipped was the figure of a thin and weak young boy, and the one continuously whipping the young boy was a man whose hat was hung very low. Tears were flowing out from the young boy’s firmly shut eyes.
“It really is too cruel.”
Kelpie was hiding in an area where several rocks naturally protruded, and observed the situation from behind a rock that was somewhat in the distance.
After watching Lydia and the others arrive at the town, Kelpie began to look for Teran’s and the Nuckelavee’s whereabouts. Although he found them, Teran seemed to be in a rage because the Nuckelavee resisted his commands.
“You are my monster, a human heart is unnecessary.”
He waved the whip.
(I’m not...... a monster......)
His mumble was covered by the sound of the brandished whip.
“With that kind of ugly appearance, who would love you? Every kind of existence on earth hates you.”
Perhaps, this remark genuinely hurt the young boy.
(But, Mother treated me......)
“How could you have a mother.”
(I do...... Brother, don’t you remember? She always sang to us......)
“Don’t call me brother! I am your master!”
A more intense whipping sound came through, overlapping with Teran’s laughter.
“To go as far as to actually miss Mother, how stupid, that woman had long been mentally abnormal. You also heard that screams of that woman before she died, right? That is, the time you bit open her abdomen and killed her.”
(N......no, that wasn’t me......)
“She bawled out that you were a monster.”
The young boy held his head and groaned painfully.
“Who else will save you now? As long as you abandon your heart and do according to what I say, then it will be very easy.”
(Abandon...... my heart......?)
“That’s right, it’s possible as long as you hate and destroy everything, I’m going to make your useless human form disappear!”
The whip struck the young boy’s back more forcefully, and not long after, the groaning sound became the roars of a monster.
During the time that Kelpie was watching them, the young boy’s appearance slowly became a Nuckelavee.
“Oh, the little demon abandoned its heart, huh.”
As he muttered, he thought of Lydia. It would have been fine if only she didn’t display her pushover personality. The young boy had already lost his human heart, and was a pure monster.
Kelpie planned to leave the back of the rock and inform Lydia, and at this time, his ears heard Teran’s voice once more.
“Right. That will do. Now, go capture the prey! The town’s waterway will immediately stop, you can enter the town during that time. Listen well, hurry and remember the blood of the woman that you should kill.”
What? The waterway will stop?
Kelpie was so surprised that he nearly let out the sound of a step, but he tried to readjust his body position and began to ponder.
If this was true, then the town will no longer be surrounded by water, and the Nuckelavee will be able to enter the town.
Lydia is in danger.
Kelpie paid attention to not be discovered by them, and hastily ran out.

*

​
“It seems that it won’t rain tonight.”
The drooping clouds covered the moon. At first, Lydia was looking at the night sky, then she heard the sound of Edgar’s footsteps entering the room, and so she spoke while closing the window.
“This is good, it will be easier to hear the sound of water tomorrow.”
Lydia nodded, and Edgar extended his hand towards her face, then leaned his forehead over, revealing a solemn expression.
“You have to rest early, you still have a fever.”
“What! Really?”
Surprised, Lydia put her hand on her own forehead.
“Lydia, haven’t you felt it at all?”
“......Because, I don’t feel unwell......”
This sentence was spoken halfway, then she felt dizzy. Edgar promptly held her and helped her sit down on the bed.
She felt her head suddenly hurting, and her body even had chills.
“It was probably because you were anxious, so you didn’t realize it. What should be done, if I had known earlier I would have said something. Are you beginning to feel unwell?”
“No...... I’m alright.”
She still had to concentrate for a period of time and then arrive at the key moment --- at the thought of this, she straightened her back.
“I’m not alone, I can continue to try my best.”
Edgar sat down beside her and held her hand. Edgar had once said that she was really strong, but the reason why she could be like that was because Edgar was by her side.
“Lydia, thank you for getting married with me.”
Edgar suddenly said that.
“......Is something wrong?”
“I have always thought that.”
He’s always this straightforward, Lydia could only blush. Although she believed that the person that should be thanked is himself, this was the only kind of matter that she couldn’t say out loud immediately.
“However, I made you encounter difficult things.”
“It’s nothing...... I didn’t find it difficult.”
She was being watched by Teran, but because Edgar used up all his strength to save her, she didn’t find it difficult.
“Lydia, regardless of the time, I love you more than you think.”
Lydia found it unexpected, thus she tilted her head in suspicion.
“More than what I think?”
“You have underestimated my love for you.” 
“I--Is that so?”
“Yes, even if I have to accept all of your pain, I can do it.”
If this referred to Teran’s plans, it meant that Edgar would do anything regardless of what it was to stop him, therefore, he said these words seriously. 
Lydia felt uneasy, so she hastily opened her mouth and said:
“Edgar, I already know the answer for tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
“It’s in order to obtain happiness, so it’s the dream that I wish to achieve the most.”
Edgar thought about it and smiled.
“Ohh, what is the wish?”
“Are you willing to achieve it for me?”
“Of course.”
“......No matter what happens, please keep on living.”
No matter what happens, Lydia wished for him to keep on living too. In order to bury the Prince, he had to sacrifice his own life as well...... she didn’t want Edgar to think about doing it.
She gazed at Edgar, and Edgar looked back into her eyes, as if he wanted to know Lydia’s thought. He might have been somewhat hesitant, as he was still considering whether or not to make this kind of agreement.
“Lord Edgar, may I ask if you have time?”
Raven’s voice came through. In terms of the conclusion, this made Lydia lose the opportunity to hear Edgar’s reply, but without knowing why, she felt relieved instead.
If by any chance he said that he wasn’t able to answer, then what should I do? At the thought of this, she was quite scared, furthermore, her pulse had actually been racing since the beginning.
“I have time, what’s the matter?”
Edgar replied without letting go of Lydia’s hand.
“The sound of the nearby waterway has disappeared.”
Raven spoke as he opened the door.
“What did you say?”
“The river has stopped. It seems to be the groundwater that rushed forth from the tin mines, but those rivers have stopped tonight.”
“Do you think that Teran knows of this?”
“I know!”
Kelpie’s voice came through, as the window was suddenly opened, and a pitch-black horse jumped in.
“Teran and the Nuckelavee are coming over here!”
“There isn’t time to wait until tomorrow, huh.”
Edgar pondered slightly for a moment. “Lydia, can you move?”
“Yes, I am all right.”
He touched Lydia’s forehead once more, trying to confirm whether or not it was true. Although he could sense that doing so wasn’t regarded as absolutely safe, it would be really dangerous staying here.
“Raven, we will set off immediately to look for the origin of 'Greensleeves.'"
Naturally, Raven nodded without the slightest hesitation.
“Will Mr. Francis and Mr. Finn need to be informed?”
“It will be very conspicuous if there are too many people, and if we don’t let Teran think that we are here, then we won’t be able to buy time.”
Then, Edgar looked towards Kelpie.
“Kelpie, can you carry Lydia over?”
If two people sat together, then he wouldn’t be able to speed up; they had to leave for the forest that once had spring water as quickly as possible.
Moreover, Edgar also thought about the condition of Lydia’s body that still hadn’t recovered, so even if she was merely grabbing onto a violently swaying horse, it would be quite exhausting. 
If it was Kelpie, then even if Lydia didn’t exert strength to grab him, he wouldn’t let Lydia fall down either.
“Lydia, listen well, let’s use all our strength to solve the mystery of “Greensleeves.””
Apart from this, there wasn’t any other way to save Lydia.

*
​

They were mixed within the darkness as they passed through the wilderness and entered the forest. Fortunately, there wasn’t any sign of Teran or any others chasing after them, but if they had already entered the town, then they would have discovered that Lydia already wasn’t there.
The white colour of the cloths that were tied to the trees would emerge from obscurity, during the day, the gloomy forest felt like even more of a separate world.
Lydia left Kelpie’s back, and listened to the sounds of the surroundings beside the hollow that was said to once have spring water, but she didn’t hear music.
“Is it those two rocks?”
Edgar also dismounted from the horse and approached Lydia’s side while holding an oil lamp.
There were two rocks placed together, as if to guard the spring water. Did the water rush forth from there? They could see traces of erosion by the river from a long time ago.
“It’s raining.”
Something cold began to drop bit by bit and hit their face.
“Let’s go.”
Edgar pulled Lydia’s hand, Raven was following behind, and Kelpie stopped where he was.
“I can’t enter, the sacred magic is too strong.”
“Is this place similar to the stone circle?”
“Yes. I’ll stay here and keep watch. If Teran and the others come, I will fight for time, hurry and go.”
“Thank you, Kelpie.”
Lydia approached Kelpie and embraced his neck that was different from that of a steed’s. The reason why she really wanted to do this was because her heart sensed a crisis that was more serious than in the past.
The reason why he left Lydia’s embrace may have been in order to eliminate the presence of separation.
“Earl, you have to protect Lydia.”
“I know.”

After passing through the two rocks sideways according to the Knockers’ words, Edgar suddenly fell into an underground mine shaft.
Lydia and Raven immediately appeared there as well. Although they had already entered smoothly, the next step was the problem.
“Where should we head towards?”
Edgar still held Lydia’s hand, and her hand was warmer than it was when she was in the town. At the thought of forcing her to do these things, Edgar felt angry at his own uselessness, but since things had already become like this, he had to ensure her safety as soon as possible, that is, he could only carry out the method of putting an end to the Nuckelavee according to Miss Rose’s words.
“In short, let’s look for the waterway of the groundwater, if it rains a little harder again, we will be able to hear the melody.”
“That’s right, Edgar, there is a hill that isn’t too high beside the forest where the spring water is located, and that place is the hematite mine. Would the stream where the music can be heard flow there?”
“I see, since the music can be heard where the spring water was, the stream probably comes from an even higher place.”
“The road here goes uphill, the direction probably goes towards the hill as well.”
They nodded in agreement to Raven’s opinion, and the three of them took steps.
It seemed that this place wasn’t a mine shaft at all, but rather a natural cavern; the road went deep inside, and the variations of the width and height were quite large as well.
Fortunately, Raven held an ore from the Knockers’ place, so even if they were in the darkness underground, the surroundings could be illuminated brightly; furthermore, when returning, that ore would appear to illuminate the way back. Thanks to this, they walked forward without the slightest bit of hesitation.
“Raven, do you hear the sound of water?”
“Not yet.”
They seemed to have walked for a long time, and they should have already entered the hematite mine, however Edgar wasn’t sure whether or not there was hematite amongst the rock walls of the cavern.
“This area is downhill.”
Said Raven, who walked ahead.
“Is there no other path? Perhaps there will be another uphill.”
Although Lydia continued to walk, her fatigue made her footsteps more and more heavy.
Probably because she was dizzy, she stumbled a bit, and so she forcefully supported herself by holding onto the rock wall with her hand.
“Lydia!”
“It’s nothing, I just kicked something slightly.”
“Was your hand cut by the rock? It’s bleeding.”
“This isn’t anything serious.”
Although Lydia tried to put her hand away, Edgar took out a handkerchief and fastened it to the wound.
“I was careless. This will make the Nuckelavee be able to smell the scent of the blood.”
“Even if you weren’t hurt, the fact that you are being watched won’t change. It’s not like it will increase danger at all.”
He didn’t know whether or not this consoled her. Although Lydia nodded, she must have tried her best to not become a nuisance to others.
“The path is split into two again.”
Every time they encountered a fork in the road, they would walk forward while confirming the conditions of both paths that were ahead; this way was too inefficient. Edgar stopped walking.
He couldn’t force Lydia to endure it any more.
“Let’s rest a little, rather than walking around randomly, it would be better to wait until the flowing rainwater enters underground, perhaps this way we won’t exert as much strength.”
“I see. Then I will go and listen for the sound of water, I will come back in twenty minutes.”
Raven split the shining ore into two.
Edgar and Lydia sat on the protruding rock that was suddenly surrounded by the ore’s light. 
From the start, Lydia didn’t say anything; just walking made her exhausted.
In order to make her a bit comfortable, Edgar wanted to make her lie down on his lap. Despite the slight hesitation, after Lydia leaned her head against his lap, she sighed in relief.
“Lydia, about the previous subject......”
Edgar whispered as he buried his fingers into the smooth caramel-coloured hair.
“......Yeah.”
“If I live, will you obtain happiness? It might not be like this either.”
Ermine said that Edgar couldn’t become the Blue Knight Earl, this probably meant that the Prince couldn’t be annihilated.
“I might become an existence that makes you suffer.”
“It won’t be like that.”
Lydia said firmly.
The golden green eyes that were somewhat glistening with tears looked at him. It wasn’t known if it was because she had a fever, but Edgar’s heart had already been attracted by those beautiful eyes.
“I understand, even if you might yourself, even if the Prince’s memories become yours, as long as your spirit is here, my feelings won’t change.”
She extended her hand and placed it on Edgar’s chest.
Her being like this is quite adorable; he held that hand and pressed it against his cheek.

No matter what happens, the only thing he didn’t want to lose was his feelings for Lydia. As long as he possessed these feelings, as long as it was in order to protect her, he thought that perhaps he could preserve himself that even if he accessed the Prince’s memories.
“You won’t abandon me forever? ......Even if we can’t have a child, will you not regret this marriage?”
Lydia widened her eyes --- rather than saying that she was surprised, Edgar sensed that her entire body was tense, and expressed that this was rather serious for her.
“Edgar......”
It was quite possible that she would get dizzy if she stood up, so he stroked Lydia’s hair to appease her.
“If I merge with the Prince, you’re willing to accept me, you ought to understand in that case, right? My feelings are the same. No matter how close you’re linked with the Prophet, I will bear the fate together with you and love you.”
“You...... knew?”
“Darnell said that he explained this to you. I’m sorry, you bore so much pain, and yet I didn’t know at all.”
“The one in the wrong is me...... I was scared that I would hurt you, so I couldn’t say it.”
Although Lydia said it as such, she was definitely the one that was the most sad. Despite Edgar believing that even if the Earl family’s blood relations were severed, it was fate, but Lydia ought to have believed that she was the one causing harm and was constantly worried for this reason.
If this was the case, then it might have been better if the Earl family didn’t exist.
If Prince and the organization were to be destroyed, then Edgar, who called himself the last Blue Knight Earl should pay that price, which could end everything. 
But if it was possible, Edgar hoped that he could be Lydia’s husband until the end, and carry out the duty of protecting her from the hands of the Prince’s organization.
For this reason, the person who had to destroy the Prince’s organization couldn’t be the Prophet; it had to be him.
Thus, his determination became more and more firm.
He believed that he had to go and see Ermine’s master.
“The reason why you told Patrick that you were going to split up with me was because of this as well, right?”
“......I’m sorry.”
“I think that if you leave me because of the Prince, then it can’t be helped, but I don’t plan on splitting up with you for other reasons.”
He lightly combed through the caramel coloured hair, as he didn’t want to forget this feeling.
“No, even if it’s because of the Prince, there's no way for me to split up with you. I threw away the divorce documents I gave you previously.”
Lydia turned her head and looked up at Edgar’s face in surprise.
“Before leaving London, I opened your drawer without permission.”
She frowned slightly.
“Are you angry?”
“......How could I be.”
After she spoke, she hid her face in embarrassment.
“Then let me have a look at your face.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Why?”
Edgar simply stared at Lydia, and as a result, she laughed shyly.
I’m glad --- Edgar thought this from the bottom of his heart.
He hadn’t seen Lydia’s carefree smile for a long time.
For Edgar, this was his treasure. He branded this smile into his heart; in all likelihood, he wouldn’t forget his love for her in the future.
“Lydia, I promise you.”
There was a light within the depths of the mine shaft coming towards them, it seemed that Raven was returning.
“......I won’t hand myself over to the Prince, I will only think about how to survive according to your wishes.”
Edgar revealed a smile, then shifted his gaze towards the direction of where the light appeared.
“Lord Edgar, I heard it, there is an underground river up ahead.”
Said Raven, who ran back.

*
​

The plummeting downpour made the nearby sparse woods, which could hardly be called a forest, tremble. 
The rain relentlessly beat down on the sparsely scattered branches and leaves, the low bushes and rocks exposed the ground, and the hollow formed a small puddle. Kelpie allowed the rain to slap against his whole body, and obstructed the front of the two rocks that were side by side.
The Nuckelavee’s blood-red eye was staring at him. The entire body’s flesh that was soaked by the rain appeared quite hideous in the darkness.
Ermine was standing by the Nuckelavee’s side.
“Kelpie, step aside. I don’t intend to harm you.”
Kelpie frowned and glared at the woman that was wearing men’s clothes.
“What are you thinking?”
“This is Teran’s order. I have to send this child underground. That man can’t enter from here, because the sacred magic is too powerful.”
“That guy isn’t human?”
“He is human, apart from his soul.”
“However, this guy is also a Nuckelavee, so isn’t he an Unseelie Court? There’s no way for him to enter from this place.”
“What this child possesses is a human soul.”
Kelpie couldn’t figure out what was going on.
While he was hesitating, Ermine placed her hand on the Nuckelavee’s long arm.
“Go, to your commanded prey.”
The Nuckelavee rushed straight towards Kelpie, then immediately changed directions and dodged Kelpie, heading for between the rocks.
“Hey! Wait up!”
Kelpie reached out and tried to stop him, but he only grabbed Ermine, who got in between and tried to intervene.
At the same time, the Nuckelavee’s figure faded away, as if it was inhaled by the darkness between the rocks.
“Damn it!”
He angrily pressed Ermine’s shoulder against the rock.
“You...... how could you do such a thing! Weren’t you standing on the Earl’s and Lydia’s side?”
Although she revealed a painful expression, she looked at Kelpie sorrowfully.
“Kelpie, what would you do then? Didn’t Madam Lydia tell you to help me? However, I have done something that would seem to jeopardize her interests.”
“Seem? You actually want to kill Lydia, don’t you!”
“That’s not it.”
In order to make Lydia be chased to death, she sent the Nuckelavee underground, but if this wasn’t to harm Lydia, in other words, this really wasn’t Teran’s order. 
Her other master was probably the person that she obeyed according to her self-awareness. However, that person seemed to frequently demand Ermine to do things that betrayed the Earl and Lydia.
“Is this for the sake of the Earl and Lydia? Or is it not? What the hell is it!”
“I myself don’t know either. With regards to how it will develop next, I also......”
Ermine mumbled --- Kelpie saw her up front, and felt that she was pitiful for the first time.
Kelpie always took action for Lydia. However, between the things that ought to be done for Lydia’s safety as well as the things that ought to be done to make her obtain happiness, there will be differences among both sides. He had pondered several times about how it would be if Lydia didn’t get married with the Earl, but if that man wasn’t by her side, it seemed that Lydia wouldn’t be happy.
For Kelpie, merely understanding these things was already extremely difficult, yet Ermine was in an even more complicated situation.
Ermine hoped that the Earl could obtain happiness, but because the Earl was the “Prince”, she didn’t know what kind of happiness it should be, thus she continued to obey someone under the condition of not being sure what ought to be done.
It’s just that Kelpie hoped that Edgar could always be the Earl that could find ways to make Lydia happy.
The thoughts of wanting to blame Ermine dissipated, and Kelpie loosened his strength. He sighed and looked away from her.
“Hurry and go. Or else I will get angry at you...... I won’t be able to abide by the agreement that I had with Lydia like this.”
In any case, the Earl and Lydia had anticipated that the Nuckelavee would chase after them, because if the trap to make the Nuckelavee lose its power was truly underground, then the Nuckelavee had to be drawn in.
Kelpie stayed outside. He didn’t know how much time he should have fought for before Lydia and the others found the trap, but he could only pray that things went smoothly next; blaming Ermine was meaningless.
“Kelpie, when you saved me, I truly was quite happy, thank you.”
This fellow can smile too --- Kelpie turned around while thinking to himself that he seemed to have seen something strange.
Just like that, he waited for Ermine’s presence to disappear from behind.
That being said, no matter which fellow it is, it’s better off they have the nerve to say “thank you” for my trouble. 
However, he felt that this human phrase wasn’t too bad.

*

​
Lydia and the others moved forward in the underground cavern once more. After resting for a bit, Lydia seemed to have recovered a bit of strength, and she tried to best to move in order to not be a burden on others.
They soon heard the sound of the stream, then immediately arrived at an area where there was water flowing beneath a steep valley.
“According to Darnell, we should look for an area where several thin rivers are overlapping and producing sounds.”
“Let’s follow along the riverbank.”
Just when Lydia said that......
“It’s not there, it’s over here.”
Darnell looked over from the horizontal cavern above.
“......Why are you there!”
“Because I saw everyone leaving hastily.”
“Were you keeping a close watch over us?”
“I just happened to see. Compared to that, please hurry over.”
The height of the precipice that they had to climb up was more or less as tall as their bodies, but because there were several protruding rocks, they were able to step up with their feet, so Lydia barely managed to climb up with the help of Edgar and Raven.
“Did you come in from the spring water rock? Was Kelpie not there?”
Even if it was Kelpie, his strength couldn’t withstand the Nuckelavee, so Lydia inquired anxiously.
“He is there, I took the opportunity when Kelpie turned his attention towards the Nuckelavee to slip in.”
“What! Isn’t that Nuckelavee coming here soon?”
“Yes, I think he already came in. Apart from that monster, there was also a woman who appeared to be Teran’s subordinate.”
Darnell didn’t seem too flustered, was this the calmness of the Prophet? Edgar sighed, pulled himself together and began to speak:
“Then let’s hurry up and go. Mr Finn, is there a basis for telling us to come here?”
“The sound above is much closer to the tune of “Greensleeves.” Please take several steps towards here. Can you hear the only three notes of the same melody?”
Even if he said this, Lydia and the others weren’t sure, and only knew that it sounded like another river was overlapping with the sound of the river water below.
“It’s as you said. Please bring us to a place where we can hear the melody.”
Darnell nodded frankly, and immediately took a step. 
As they lowered their bodies to pass through the short horizontal cavern and finally arrived at a cavern that was tall enough for them to stand up, they suddenly heard a bar of a familiar melody. Lydia immediately sensed a mysterious atmosphere that practically gave her goosebumps.
The sound of water echoed in the complex linked cavern; some sounds were broadened, some sounds were weakened, and music was formed. 
The music of fairies was born in this way.
“Amazing......”
Continuing forward from there, the music became more and more clear.
Finally, the place where Darnell stopped was a spacious hall-like area where several natural pillars stood.
Lydia’s ears heard a melody that was practically identical to “Greensleeves.”
“Raven, was this what you heard as well?”
“Yes, that is right.”
“However, this isn’t the complete melody.”
Like Darnell said, there were missing notes everywhere throughout the melody.
“What’s going on? Isn’t this the place of origin?”
“If you move forward, there will only be a narrow road, furthermore, it heads upward, so even if you continue proceeding ahead, you would probably get farther and farther away from the stream.”
After Raven spoke, Darnell nodded as well.
I think the reason why that the notes are deficient is because a river is missing. ”
Upon hearing this, Lydia let out an “ah”. 
“That’s right, this is the reason why the spring water dried up! After Miss Rose passed away, a Knocker sealed the hematite mine, therefore the rivers were blocked, causing the streams to no longer flow from there, it ought to be like this.”
“I see, that’s quite possible. That being said, if you want the rivers to regain its flow, then you must open the hematite mine.”
This was absolutely right. But the Knockers said that the entrance to the hematite mine was completely blocked up.
Lydia still had a fever, so her mind, which was a little fuzzy, tried hard to think.
“Perhaps that’s a clue to opening the mine --- the words that Miss Rose left behind.”
The time when the rose blossoms in red in the hematite mine, the monster will disappear.
“Roses blooming red huh. It can’t be done underground. Having said that, even if it isn’t the season yet for roses to bloom above ground, if the roses refer to Miss Rose......”
“Then what is the meaning of blossoms in red?”
Lydia had been in deep thought all along, but she didn’t know what that referred to.
“Lydia, are you feeling unwell?”
The reason why Edgar minded was might have been because Lydia involuntarily leaned against the rock wall, perhaps she hoped that she could relax a little more and then move.
“No, I’m fine.”
“You can sit down.”
“May I ask if you are ill?”
Darnell also looked at her anxiously.
“It isn’t anything serious.”
“You have a slight fever.”
Edgar reached out and tried to help Lydia sit down, but the rock wall that Lydia’s hand came across was extremely cold, making her forcefully straighten her body in surprise.
“There is water...... the rock is moist. Where is this seeping out from?”
Edgar felt the wall and tried to confirm it as well, and borrowed the light of Raven’s oil lamp to look for traces of water.
About ten feet above, the rock had small cracks, and water seemed to be leaking from there.
“Does this mean it’s quite possible that there is water on the other side of the rock?”
“I’ll go and confirm it.”
After Raven said that, he began to climb the rock wall.  He stepped on a slightly protruding rock and quickly approached the area where water was seeping out; Edgar shone the light of the oil lamp upwards.
Raven used the knife handle to hit the rock, and pressed his ear close to the rocks again, seemingly investigating the depth of the crack and the thickness of the rock.
He turned his head not long after, and spoke downwards:
“Lord Edgar, there is undoubtedly a large amount of water stored on the other side of the rock slab, and the rock around this crack seems thinner.”
“Is that a rock slab that we can destroy?”
After Edgar inquired, Darnell interrupted:
“Destroy? If approximately a century’s worth of water is stored on the other side, we will all be flushed away. What’s more, if this place has a trick that can reportedly put an end to the monster, then it’s meaningless if the riddle isn’t solved.”
“Edgar, what Mr Darnell said is right.”
“Then, do you have any ideas to solve the riddle?”
Darnell shook his head.
“I do not think the rock slab can be destroyed easily.”
This discussion finally ended under Raven said that, and Edgar fretfully kicked a stone by his feet.
Lydia had been looking up all along. Since a moment ago, she thought she saw the rock flashing light, and so she paid attention.
At first, she believed that it was the light of the oil lamp that was reflected off of the wet rock, but under a different angle, there seemed to be a light similar to a rainbow, but it was shining all over the rock wall.
“Hey, Raven, what’s that? There is something shining.”
“May I ask where?”
“Near your right hand...... yes, a little more towards the right, it’s that.”
“I am not too sure, but this seems to be some kind of crystal.”
After Raven used a knife to cut the rock, he gracefully jumped down from there.
“May I ask if it’s this?”
Lydia took the rock and carefully gazed at the crystalline object.
The dark, thin rock strata overlapped like petals, and although it had a black light, the surface gloss resembled some kind of shell, and reflected many colours.
She recalled a sample that her father gave her to look at having several kinds of hematite ore, and she felt that the inside of the sample was very similar to this.
“This is hematite.”
After Lydia finished speaking, Edgar gazed at the stone.
“So this is hematite, that being said, the depths of the rock slab is the hematite mine?”
“Look, isn’t this quite similar to a petal?”
“If you think about it like this, it seems to really look like a rose.”
Darnell’s words made Lydia remember something important.
Hematite ore was written on top of Father’s specimen case, and the name of the crystal was finely and clearly written beside these words; this way, Lydia understood why that name was written.
“It’s an iron rose! I remember among the hematite ores, this form of crystal is called the iron rose.”
“Then this is the rose! If that’s the case, what is the so-called blossom in red referring to?”
Just when Edgar leaned out, an immense noise that shook the surroundings came through. Could it be that the cavern was collapsing somewhere? They also heard a low howl-like roar.
“Is it the Nuckelavee?”
“It probably is, and it’s approaching here.”
Although it was reckless, Raven still dashed to the entrance of the area, possibly trying to stop the monster.
We must hurry. Lydia tried her best to sort out her thoughts that could almost come into view.
If the roses were the hematite ores, then the scarlet was referring to the hematite as well.
What should be done? I must think about it calmly.
There must be a clue among what Father told her.
“That’s it!”
Lydia struck the hematite ore against a nearby rock. She picked up the shattered crystals and immediately saw the scarlet colour of the ore’s cut section.
“Look quickly, as long as you shatter the hematite ore, the inner red part will be exposed, so in the past, it was thought that this stone was quite effective in treating blood-related diseases.”
Edgar gazed at the stone, then looked up at the wall.
“That being said, we have to destroy this rock slab as expected, right? The melody of “Greensleeves” will draw the Nuckelavee over, and “the time when the rose blossoms in red” refers to the moment the blocked stream comes out.”
As long as the water can flow out, “Greensleeves” will sound it like it has regained its complete melody.  “The monster will disappear”, this phrase refers to the Nuckelavee being flushed away by the current and submerged underwater. This ought to represent death for the Nuckelavee.
The monster will disappear. However, that young boy will disappear as well.
Did his mother, Miss Rose, want to bring him away while the red blood was flowing?
Was this hatred or love?
But even now, the young boy’s spirit must have missed his mother. If she anticipated this, then this could definitely save the young boy.
“Lydia, let him be free, this place is his mother’s embrace.”
Lydia nodded, harboring wishful feelings. 
“Breaking the rock slab shouldn’t be that simple, right?”
Darnell asked, but Edgar expressed that there was a way.
“We can’t do it, so why not use that monster’s strength?”
“You’re going to make the Nuckelavee destroy the rock wall?”
“Yes, as long as we can draw him in smoothly, surely......” 
Then, Edgar looked towards Raven.
“Raven, I leave Lydia to you. Leave this place with Darnell and take refuge in a high place.”
Lydia grabbed Edgar’s coat in surprise.
“Edgar, could it be that you’re going to be alone...... no, I want to stay here too! If I’m not present, the Nuckelavee won’t come here.”
Edgar reached out, gently undoing the handkerchief that was tied onto Lydia’s wound on her hand.
The blood had already stopped from the wound just a moment ago, but the handkerchief was full of blood; Edgar held the handkerchief tightly.
“This can draw the Nuckelavee over, and the melody of this place can call him as well, so he will absolutely head straight towards here.”
“No...... I don’t want to!”
Lydia grabbed him like a child.
Although she knew that Raven and Darnell were at the side, she couldn’t restrain herself.
Edgar held Lydia in his arms, and said to Raven and Darnell: “I only need a minute, please let me be alone with Lydia.”
As their figures disappeared into the deep narrow path, the Nuckelavee was running around the caves that were jumbled together, and was slowly approaching. The shaking and the roars unceasingly came through. 
Even so, Edgar still faced Lydia calmly and revealed a tender smile towards her.
“Lydia, thank you, because you said that even if I change, you will love my soul, so I’m not afraid at all, I will be okay.”
“If the rock is destroyed, there will be an enormous amount of water flowing, and you will be flushed away......”
“I won’t die in this kind of place.”
“There’s no way you can be saved! Even if you aren’t flushed away, this place will become a river, are you going to grab onto a rock the whole time and not let go? You won’t be able to leave like that!”
“I will be saved.”
As he said these words, his eyes shone with confidence.
He was a person who had survived countless crises, and knew how to handle dangerous situations.
But Lydia wasn’t convinced and shook her head continuously.
“Since this is the case, why can’t I stay by your side?”
Lydia hit his shoulder with her fist as if to criticize him, and he grabbed Lydia’s hand to stop her.
“You have to be safe, I can only swear that I will definitely come back alive. For your happiness, I promise you that I will continue to live.”
Edgar’s earnest expression made Lydia loosen her strength. She sensed an even stronger willpower that came from the depths of his determination.
“Lydia, I have been prepared for what may happen where we must separate all this time. In the past, I believed that I couldn’t bring you down to hell with me, and thought that I couldn’t bind you to this kind of situation. However, I am a greedy man, perhaps I will bind you together with my cursed life, then take you down to hell with me. Even if it will be like this, I already don’t want to make you leave.”
The ash mauve eyes gazed at Lydia, whose face was slightly red.
“Although I warned myself that I shouldn’t have this way of thinking, my patience has already reached its limits. Because I can’t free myself from loving you.”
The smile that came from the bottom of this heart was so passionate that it was sorrowful.
“Please continue to be my wife.”
Then, Edgar took out a music box from his pocket and placed it in Lydia’s hand.
“That’s enough for me, I won’t ask for anything else.”
Edgar loved Lydia more than she thought. Lydia gazed at the music box that she received at the same time, because she actually sensed this point, tears flowed down.
“We’re going against our fates and joining together, and in the future, we can only continue to run in the opposite direction of fate, but regardless of what happens, this soul will forever be your husband, you’re willing to believe in me, right?”
What will happen? No, Edgar is planning to do something. Although she had this kind of vague feeling, it was an action that was based out of his love. As she understood this point, she wept.
“......Where...... are you going?”
“I’m not going anywhere, the place where I belong is by your side.”
Liar.
However, because she realized that these words were very sincere, she couldn’t say anything.
Perhaps Edgar had already finished planning on how to make use of the river to be saved, but this will cause a brief or possibly a long-term separation between them. Despite her having this kind of feeling, she could only choose to believe it.
Lydia embraced him again and said:
“I will be lonely, so don’t leave me all alone. You have to come back soon.”
She usually wasn’t able to speak frankly, so this made Edgar disappointed. Even so, she always believed that the time the two of them spent together made her feel the happiest.
“Yeah, we will meet again very soon.”
He embraced Lydia tightly as well.
“Afterwards, we will not separate again.”
When he spoke about meeting again, will it happen in this world?
Lydia was very scared, but Edgar had already promised her. If she continued to make him worried, his method to be saved that he planned might disappear.
“Okay, hurry and go.”
Lydia branded that gentle smile into her eyes while she endured the feelings of not wanting to part, and slowly drew back from Edgar’s side.
As soon as she came to her senses, she realized that Raven was pulling her hand, then they forged ahead towards the path heading upwards.
At the same time, she saw the Nuckelavee bursting into the vast area where Edgar was located.
“Edgar......”
“Madam Lydia, hurry!”
She was being urged, there was already no way to turn back, as she only heard the Nuckelavee’s roars which seemed to shake the mine.

He used the handkerchief that he took from Lydia’s hand and wrapped up a small stone, then gripped it tightly.
Edgar glared at the monster before him in this way.
“Come, Nuckelavee.”
The monster slowly turned its head, revealing its fangs while stepping towards the area. He seemed to have smelled Lydia’s scent.
Although he was probably able to hear the melody of “Greensleeves”, there was no reaction. Edgar wasn’t sure if this was because the music wasn’t complete, or if the young boy’s consciousness had already faded away.
Would the monster’s strength simply swallow a human’s heart and crush it like this? No, it’s because that wasn’t the case, only then would the Nucklelavee come here.
The Nuckelavee couldn’t have noticed that this was the sound of water flowing, even though it moved across the edge of the water. A human heart was so strong that it could even resist a monster’s instincts.
Therefore Edgar ought to have also maintained a strong heart.
His feelings towards Lydia wouldn’t disappear.
Edgar slowly drew back, pressed his back against the rock wall, then stopped.
The monster used its front foot to grab the ground, as it prepared to charge.
The reason why his gaze was fixated on Edgar’s raised hand was probably because he sensed Lydia’s blood.
“What you’re chasing after is this scent, right? This is the prey that you’ve been thirsting for, but you can’t obtain it, because all of Lydia belongs to me.”
In the moment that Edgar watched the Nuckelavee kick the ground and charge ahead, he placed the handkerchief towards the crack in the rock wall.
The Nuckelavee jumped like a deer and tried to capture it.
The long arm swung forward, and the sharp claws ran through the handkerchief, then struck the rock in one breath.
Edgar felt rock fragments scattering down on him as he saw the monster’s arm thrust deeply into the rock.
After a moment of silence, the rock made a cracking sound.
The crystalline hematite ores shattered, revealing a scarlet-blood colour.
The crack spread rapidly, and the water spurted out from the fissures, then the rock split open and crumbled.
The iron roses bloomed blood red in succession.
At that moment, the Nuckelavee was immersed in the underground water, which flowed in like a waterfall, and let out a roar which wasn’t known if it was an anguished wail or not.
The fierce river made it hard to stand still, as Edgar was nearly flushed away. He urgently grabbed the rock pillar and climbed up higher and higher.
Even the Nuckelavee, who possessed an enormous body, was engulfed and flushed away in an instant.
The Nuckelavee suddenly struggled while rising to the surface, trying to grab a nearby rock, but its bare flesh and veins that touched the water crumbled, seemingly dissolving along the flowing water. 
Edgar looked at the effect that the river water gave to the Nuckelavee, while trying his best to grab onto the stone and not be flushed away by the water.
The underground rivers performed its natural melody while dissolving the sea monster.
The Nuckelavee, who was slowly being flushed into the dark earth, had already lost its monster appearance. Edgar thought that he seemed to have seen the monster surrounded by the “Greensleeves” melody that echoed in the cavern, which soon revealed the young boy’s form.
Perhaps the young boy had already been freed from the hands of the monster within him. In the moment that the young boy disappeared before Edgar’s eyes, he seemed to have seen the young boy reveal a smile, could he have been mistaken?
Miss Rose didn’t hate him at all. The melody of “Greensleeves” resembled the mother embracing the young boy and taking him away.
Because someone was willing to freely invest their love, regardless of how big the monster’s powers were, people wouldn’t lose themselves. Edgar felt that the young boy revealed this scene before him.
“Lord Edgar.”
He heard a voice amongst the sounds of the fierce water.
“Ermine?”
After Darnell expressed that he might have seen the woman that was Teran’s subordinate, he believed that Ermine ought to have been nearby.
Ermine’s appearance also meant that Edgar was forced to make a painful decision. At the thought of this, he felt like he didn’t know whether or not being rescued in this way was good or bad. But he already wasn’t able to give any opinion, and could only set foot onto the path before him.
“Lord Edgar, please let go of the rock, I will bring you to a safe place.”
After he did according to Ermine’s words, his body was pulled into the water as expected, but the river was very steady, furthermore, he was quickly brought to an area with a vast shore.
Although he was still in the underground cavern, being able to climb up to dry ground made him feel at ease.
The ore fragment that was taken from Raven didn’t lose its light even if it was soaked, and still illuminated the surroundings. 
After Edgar took off his coat, which had become heavy after being soaked in water, and made an effort to stand up, he saw Ermine kneeling down in front of him.

The music of “Greensleeves” came through. After Lydia and the others left from the rocks on the mountain that resembled a stack of building blocks, they heard a bit of the music.
The rain had already stopped, and the gray air before dawn dyed the sky.
Is Edgar safe and sound? At the thought of this, Lydia was extremely worried, but she felt the pain in her arm that existed from the beginning seemingly waning, and so she rolled up her sleeve to take a look.
The scale-like object that originally stuck to her arm wasn’t seen.
The Nuckelavee had disappeared.
With regards to the conclusion, was this redemption for that young boy? Or was it a mere death? Lydia could only lower her head gloomily.
(Was it you guys that brought the child over?)
A sound came from above the stacked rocks. Lydia raised her head to look, and found a Knocker wearing a black vest sitting there.
(I’m talking about Miss Rose’s son.)
“You wouldn’t be the one who sealed the hematite mine......”
He jumped down from the rock and bowed by Lydia’s feet.
(Thanks to this, I could fulfill my agreement with an old friend, thank you very much.)
“How is that child? What will your agreement with Miss Rose turn him into?”
When Lydia crouched down to inquire, a sound came from another area. The Knockers’ elder appeared from a small cave between a rock and the ground.
(We pulled him up from the underground rivers a moment ago. Although he fainted, he didn’t drink too much water, he should be able to recover quickly.)
“Then he’s still alive?”
“Only the Nuckelavee dissolved away in the water, that child won’t turn into a monster anymore.”
Nico and Coblynau spoke while crawling out from the cave to the ground.
“Is everyone...... not staying at the town?”
“I realized that you, the Earl, and Raven went out, so we were planning to split up to look for the origin of “Greensleeves” too and entered underground.”
“Is that so, only then did you discover that the child was flushed away by the water.”
“It will be quite difficult for him to live in the human world with his single-eyed appearance, so we want to look after him. Since he is Miss Rose’s child, there probably won’t be a problem.)
“That’s great......”
Lydia felt relieved, but as one matter was settled, another serious worry emerged in her mind.
“Hey, Nico, what about Edgar? You didn’t see him?”
“What! The Earl wasn’t with you?”
The Knockers and Coblynau didn’t seem to be sure, so they shook their heads simultaneously.
He was still in the cavern of this mountain.
Could it be that he was flushed away and submerged underwater? Lydia dispersed this kind of thought. Because rivers had appeared, the paths in the cavern ought to have changed as well, perhaps he couldn’t find the exit, and had been pacing around all along.
“I’m going to find him.”
Lydia stood up, and as a result, she suddenly felt dizzy.
“My lady, let us return to town. you should not force yourself any longer.”
Raven immediately went to her side, extended a hand towards her and said.
“But I’m worried about Edgar.”
“I will go and look for him after.”
Regardless of what happens, Raven will always act for Edgar; this remark was truly too unlike the words that he would say.
“We need to hurry, something might have happened!”
“Lord Edgar said that you have to be taken priority first.”
Although Lydia couldn’t help but feel sentimental, hearing these words shocked her.
That’s right, perhaps Edgar didn’t want Lydia to look for him. 
“......Take me as priority? When did he say that?”
“Before leaving the hotel. Lord Edgar said that if he can’t stay by your side, then I have to do so.”
When the two of them separated, Lydia felt that Edgar had made an important decision. He planned to leave the Earl family and take some kind of action. She also felt that it meant they would separate for the time being.
Raven also sensed something similar to what she did, so now, he was worried about Lydia’s body first and not looking for his master. Lydia nearly lost her strength, and grabbed the rock on the side.
She wanted to immediately run over to Edgar’s side and shout that she didn’t want to, but she endured this urge and softly said:
“......Edgar, you’ll be okay, right?”
Raven replied with a firm tone and without the slightest bit of hesitation:
“That is absolutely the case. Lord Edgar will definitely return, he will return to the place where you, Madam Lydia, are waiting.”
He will definitely return safe and sound, because he promised Lydia. The two of them couldn’t part again, so even if she was lonely, it would only be for a little while.
Before then, Lydia was going to make her heart strong, because she had to protect the Earl family as well.
Protecting the place that Edgar will come back to in the future and continuing to be his wife, this was something that Lydia promised him.
“I understand, Raven.”
She pulled herself together and used the strength of her own legs to stand up.
Lydia heard the melody of “Greensleeves”, and naturally felt the magic the melody possessed. The thing that existed between Miss Rose and the young boy was bound to exist between her and Edgar as well.
This wasn’t a simple break-up song, it was a love song that even if they were separated by destiny, that kind of thing wouldn’t disappear. Lydia gently held the tiny music box in her hands.

*

​
Ermine bent down on her knee, waiting for Edgar to speak. Edgar silently looked down at her; she seemed intent on continuing to wait in front of him forever.
“Do you want me to decide now?”
“Yes,” she replied in soft voice.
“If it’s now, you can pretend to sink into a state of false death after being engulfed by the flood, and then awaken as the Prince.”
This was in order to deceive the enemy, and it was equivalent to deceiving Lydia as well as everyone from the Earl family.
He wanted to look at Lydia’s face one more time. Couldn’t it wait until after she was brought back to London safely and then act? Although he thought as such before, unnecessary premonitions will become like this.
Moreover, the hesitation in his heart had actually already disappeared.
Lydia had said that no matter what Edgar becomes, she would still love him.
In that case, he was going to knock down the Prince and the organization with all his strength.
Since he couldn’t become the Blue Knight Earl, then even if he became the “Prince”, he had to accomplish this.
Although the Nuckelavee younger brother disappeared, Teran was still here. If that man already knows about the “Prophet’s” existence, then Lydia will no longer simply be drawn in, rather she will become the organization’s target. 
If it was now, he should be able to rush forward under an intense frame of mind with the hopes of protecting Lydia. The agreement that he would definitely return to her side will support him, he could absolutely handle it.
“I understand.”
Edgar spoke out not long afterwards, making Ermine reveal a stiff expression, as if she felt pain.
“Then, please use the ‘Prince’......”
“However, I don’t plan on dying.”
He wouldn’t think about death again. Edgar placed only Lydia’s words into his heart, then spoke in that..
“I must protect Lydia, but the Blue Knight Earl home...... if it’s for Lydia, I don’t know whether or not it’s necessary for them to exist.”
Ermine seemed to have tilted her head slightly, her straight black hair lightly swaying.
“So, I’ll have you guys prepare first because I might not act in accordance with your ways of thinking.”
Edgar used his fingers to scatter the water dripping from his wet hair, revealing an arrogant smile.
“If I obtain the Prince’s strength and won’t lose Lydia, you guys won’t understand my way of thinking.”
“......I do not mind, because I am your servant eternally.”
“Your master will scowl.”
“That person is not my master.”
“Is that so? Nevermind then, aside from that, explain it clearly to that guy sooner.”
Edgar shifted his gaze to the back of the rock; a moment ago, he began to feel that someone was there.
“Francis, come out.”
After a brief silence, a figure slowly walked out. A silver-haired man wearing a black eye patch looked at him in embarrassment, but also with an unprecedented solemn expression.